Bottle.



6. LUCAS.

BOTTLE.

(Application filed June 14, 1901.)

Patented Sept. l7, NM,

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

6. LUCAS.

BOTTLE.

(Application filed June 14, 1901.)

Patented Sept. l7, l90l.

' 2Sheets-Sheat 2.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR: 4%? $4044 By Attorneys, mifin m WITNESSES: in! M 4- UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE LUCAS, OF BROOKLYN, NElV YORK.

BOTTLE.

S EC CA ON formingpart of Letters Patent No. 682,855, dated September17, 1901. Application filed June 14, I901. Serial No. 64,545.- (Nomodel.)

My invention aims also to provide a bottle which measures the quantitywhich may be poured out at each inversion of the bottle and in which thenumber of drinks which can be poured out is limited.

My invention aims to provide also various improvements in detail, setforth specifically in the following description.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings,representing certainembodiments of my invention, Figure 1 is a diametral section through abottle-neck, showing the internal parts in elevation. Figs. 2 and 3 arecrosssections on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing respectively the partsin the position occupied when the bottle is full and in the positionoccupied when as many drinks have been poured as are possible. Fig. 4 isa section similar to Fig. 1, showing the bottle inverted for the purposeof pouring out a drink. Fig.

5 is a view similar to Fig. lot a modified embodiment of my invention.section of Fig. 5 approximately on the line 6 6 thereof. Fig. 7 is aview of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the bottle being inverted topour out the liquid. Fig. 8 is development of a part of the apparatus ofFig. 5, showing a series of stops used. Fig. 9 is a diametralillustration of a modification. Fig. 10 is a view of an embodimentsomewhat similar to Fig. 5, the bottle not being shown. Fig. 11 is across-section of Fig. 10, and Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10 withthe parts in a different position.

An important feature of my invention is that it operates to preventrefilling of the bottle by making it impossible to pour out more than acertain predetermined number of drinks. This predetermined number ofdrinks being made slightly larger than the average number of drinks in abottle of given Fig. 6 is a cross- I size, as soon as the originalcontents of the bottle are all poured out it willbe useless to refillit, as it would be impossible to pour out the refilled liquid. Thepreferable arrangement for this purpose consists in providing a stopperwhich at each inversion of thebottle is alternated from and back to thestoppering position and in providing means for automatically holding thesame in the stoppering position after a predetermined number ofalternations, so that no more liquid can be poured out of the bottle. Itis advisable in connection with such an arrangement to provide that onlya measured quantity shall be permitted to escape from the bottle at eachinversion thereof, the quantity of course depending on the nature of theliquid generally to be carried in a bottle. This is provided for bymaking the stopper double, composed of two members connected to eachother,with

an intermediate space, and so arranged that by their movement in theneck of the bottle the space between them is connected alternately withthe interior and the exterior of the bottle.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a bottle-neck of the common form,except for certain variations, which will be referred .to hereinafter.In this neck isa stopper of any suitable construction, which as a wholeI designate B. In the form shown this stopper consists of a memberreciprocating in the neck of the bottle; but any sort of stopper whichalternately opens and'stoppers the outlet might be arranged to operatein the manner contemplated by my invention. In the position of Fig. 1the outlet is stoppered, while in that of Fig. 4 it is open. In itspreferred form this stopper is double, being composed of the members I)"and B which are substantially close-fitting pistons connected together,but spaced apart from each other by members B the members B slid ing inthe bore of the neck A. In the upright position of the bottle the memberB is below the neck, and the liquid'is free to enter the space betweenthe members B'and B as soon as the bottle is inverted. Upon suchinversion the liquid first enters the space between B' and B and thenthe entire stopper is forced down to the position of Fig. 4, in whichposition the space between the memhers B and B communicates with theoutlet-passage A, which may lead around the controlling mechanism or maylead directly to a side outlet, or according to any other desiredarrangement. In the position of Fig. 4 the liquid which filled the spacebetween the members B and E of the stopper can be emptied, but nofurther liquid from the bottle can enter the space between the stoppermembers nor in any other way find its way to the outlet. If by any meanswhatever liquid is forced into the bottle through the neck thereof, itcan only be by reciprocating the stopper B, so as to let the liquidfirst into the space between the members 13 and B and then into thebottle. This reciprocation accomplishes the same result as would thepouring of drinks-that is, it operates the mechanism which after acertain number of operations prevents further pouring from the bottleand destroys the usefulness of refilling. Any other means of measuringthe quantity which is permitted to escape from the bottle at oneinversion of the same may be used in connection with the means forstoppering the bottle entirely after the predetermined number ofinversions.

The mechanism which accomplishes the stoppering of the bottle after thedrawingout of a predetermined number of drinks therefrom is capable of awide range of equivalents. The specific mechanisms which I have shownfor this purpose are based on the operation of an escapement which isset in the starting position and is moved from the starting to the finalposition step by step as the stopper is alternated from the open to thestopper-ing position, the escapement being automatically limited, sothat after a certain predetermined number of movements it cannot operatefurther, and which, by reason of its connection with the stopper,prevents further movement of the latter. The last postion, of course, iswith the stopper in position to seal the mouth of the bottle.

In Fig. l, O is a fixed projection and D is a member, preferably awheel, attached to the upper member B of the stopper and which isrotatable. The cylindrical face of the member D is provided with aseries of stops, such as the vertical ribs E shown, which cooperate withthe relatively fixed projection 0, against which they bear in turnduring the rotation of the rotary member D. The rotation of D isefiected by means of a spring F, Figs. 2, 3 and 4, attached at its innerend to a fixed shaft G, preferably carried by a cap H, surrounding theparts and fixed in the neck of the bottle, as hereinafter explained. Thefree end F of the spring is preferably located in a groove in the innersurface of the rotary member D, so as to permit relative verticalmovement of these two parts. The

ribs E are interrupted at their upper and lower ends alternately, asshown, to permit the projection O to follow its path between Startingfrom the position of Fig.

said ribs.

by step the projection is moved along its path to the final point, wherethere is a final stop, such as the shoulder E in Fig. 4, preventingfurther movement of the rotary member, and therefore of the stopper.With the double stopper B shown in the drawings the final position inwhich the stopper is held may be either that assumed in the invertedposition of the bottle, in which case the member B effects the sealing,or that assumed in the upright position of the bottle, Fig. 1, in whichthe member B effects the sealing. With a single stopper, however, theother parts remaining the same, the stop E would be arranged to hold thestopper in the position assumed during the upright position of thebottle. In Fig. 2 the rotary member D is shown in the starting position,with the first stop E bearing against the projection C. In Figs. 3 and4; the bottle is supposed to have been inverted the number of timesnecessary to completely empty it, and the last vertical stop and thehorizontal stop E are bearing against the projection O, and therebypreventing further movement vertically or under the influence of thespring, F. It will be understood that the stopper in this embodiment ofmy invention may be integral with or otherwise attached to the rotarymember D and rotates and slides on the shaft G, which is provided at thebottom with a head G to prevent the stopper and rotary member fallingtoo low in the upright position of the bottle.

The cap or casing H, to which the'shaft G and movable parts, as well asthe projection O, are attached, may be arranged in any suitable mannerfor insertion into the necks of bottles. One mode of accomplishing thisis by the use of leaf-springs H, attached to and extending below thecap, which can be pressed inward during the insertion of the mechanismin the neck of the bottle and which will spring outward into recesses Hin such neck when they have been inserted to the proper depth. It isthen impossible to remove them except by breaking the bottle, when theymay be reinserted into a new bottle.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 8 differs in several details fromthat of Figs. 1 to 4. The same form of stopper B, composed of themembers 13, B and B is shown as in the previous construction. The cap His here shown as provided with springs H of slightlyditferent form,which catch into notches H".

IIO

The casing also has a plate 11 on the under.

side, protecting the escapement mechanism from being tampered with. Theescapement mechanism comprises a series of ribs E simiand are fixed,while the projecting member 0' is movable. The member 0 is pivoteddirectly on the upper cylindrical portion of the shaft G and rotatesunder the action of aspring F Fig. 6, which is attached at its oppositeend to an upright member K, connected to the stopper. The lower portionof the shaft G is square, so that the stopper reciprocates thereon, butdoes not rotate. Through the medium of the upright K and the spring Fthe reciprocations of the stopper are transmitted to the projectingmember (3, so as to permit it to pass one by one the ribs E until itreaches the end of its movement at E Figs. 7 and 8, where it will beheld down, so that the member B closes the mouth of the bottle.

The arrow in Fig. 8 shows the movement of the projecting member 0 in thepath formed for it by the ribs E The number of drinks for which thebottle is to be arranged will regulate the number of ribs E used inconnection with the projection with which they cooperate, and there maybe either substantially an entire circle, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, oronly a part of a circle, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8. In order to preventthe forcing of the mechanism into the mouth of the bottle, I mayprovide, as shown in Fig. 5, that the portion of the neck in which thestopper B reciprocates shall be of less diameter than the portion inwhich the casing H fits. The casing H cannot in such case be pushedbelow the shoulder L.

Yet another form which the escapement may take is shown in Fig. 9, inwhich the projection C from any member reciprocated by the inversion ofthe bottle moves in a path between ribs E the latter being provided withinclined surfaces which engage the inclined points on the projection 0the latter being pivoted at (L and having at opposite ends inclinedfaces 0 both of which when bearing against the inclined surfaces of theribs will force the projection O always in the same direction, whetherthe projection be moving upward or downward, as is evident from thefigure. E indicates the last rib adapted to prevent furtherreciprocation of the projection.

In the construction shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12 a still furthermodification is made of the escapement, the parts not shown beingsimilar to the corresponding parts in Fig. 5. In this case the rotarymember D rotates on the shaft G, but does not reciprocate thereon. Theribs E are arranged as in Fig. 1, and a spring F tends to rotate themember D always in one direction as the projection C is reciprocated upand down by means of'its connection to the stopper member B through theupright K. When the operation has been completed, the solid portion Eacts to stop further movement of the stopper member B, the same beingheld in its lowermost position.

The operation of the several parts of my improved bottle being nowclear, I will explain briefiy the mode of using the same. The bottlebeing filled to the desired point, the controlling mechanism is insertedfrom the month until the spring-catches take into the notches in theside of the neck and hold the whole in place. Upon inverting or tip pingthe bottle to the position of Fig.7 a sufficient quantity of the liquidto make a drink of the desired size enters the space between the membersB and B of the stopper, and as thedownward movement of the liquid andthe stopper is continued the member B closes the inlet and the member Bat about the same time opens theoutlet, so that the liquid between thetwo is permitted to escape. During this operation the liquid occupiesabout the position shown in Fig. 7. Simultaneously with each inversionof the bottle to the pouring position the escapement moves one stepforward and another step on the return of the bottle to the uprightposition. The pouring of the last drink is shown in Fig. 4, in whichthere is no liquid remaining in the bottle and in which the escapementhas moved the last step, so that on the return to the upright positionthe stopper member B will continue to close the neck of the bottle,being held in position by the stop E, and will thus make it useless torefill the bottle even by boring through the bottom or in any other way.It will be seen, therefore, that the principle of the operation of myinvention is extremely simple and acts in most certain manner toaccomplish the end aimed atthe prevention of reusing the bottle-alsothat the same is secured against tampering or even a temptation totamper with it to refill .the bottle. Because of the simplicity of theprinciple involved the operating mechanism of my improved device iscapable of modification in a great variety of ways, both as to theconstruction and arrangement of the details and the combinations of thevarious elements involved. It will be understood, therefore, that myinvention is not limited to the specific embodiments hereinbefore shownand described, but that I desire to include all apparatus foraccomplishing the same results by substantially the same means.

WVhat I claim is-- 1. The combination with a bottle of a stopper movablyheld in said bottle, and means for automatically holding said stopper ina stoppering position after the inversion of said bottle a predeterminednumber of times.

2. The combination with means for permitting the pouring of only ameasured quantity from a bottle at each inversion thereof, of means forautomatically stoppering said bottle and holding the same stopperedafter a predetermined number of inversions.

3. The combination with a bottle of a stopper arranged to alternate toand from a stoppering position in the neck of said bottle, and meansforautomatically holding the same in the stoppering position after apredetermined number of alternations.

4. The combination with a bottle of a double stopper having stopperingmembers connected to each other with an intermediate space, and arrangedto move in the neck of said bottle to connect such space with theinterior and the exterior of the bottle alternately, and means forautomatically preventing such movements thereof in excess of apredetermined number.

5. The combination with a bottle of a stopper arranged to alternate toand from a stopping position in the neck of said bottle, an escapement,means for causing a step-by-step movement of said escapement as saidstopper is alternated, means for automatically preventing such movementsin excess of a predetermined number, and means for bolding said stopperagainst movement when said escapement is stopped.

6. The combination with a bottle of a stopper arranged to alternate toand from a stopping position in the neck of said bottle, an escapementcomprising a projection and a member having a path of determined lengthfor said projection, and means for causing a relative movement of saidprojection along its path step by step as said stopper is alternated,whereby when said projection reaches the end of its path furtheralternations of said stopper are prevented.

7. The combination with a bottle of a stopper arranged to alternate toand from a stopping position in the neck of said bottle, a rotarymember, a spring tending to rotate the same, a series of stopspreventing movement of said member bysaid spring, means for permittin gthe movement of said member by said spring from one stop to the next assaid stopper is alternated, and a final stop preventing furtheralternation of said stopper.

8. The combination with a bottle of a stopper arranged to alternate toand from a stopping position in the neck of said bottle, ahorizontally-rotating member, a spring tending to rotate the same, aseries of vertical stops preventing movement of said member in ahorizontal direction and interrupted at their upper and lower endsalternately, means for reciprocating said stops to permit the rotationof said member as the stopper is alternated, and a final stop preventingfurther alternation of said stopper.

9. The combination with a bottle of a stopper arranged to reciprocate toand from a stopping position in the neck of said bottle, a member Dattached to said stopper, to reciprocate therewith, a spring arranged torotate said member horizontally, a relativelymovable series of verticalribs E and a relatively-fixed projection O forming an escapement forsaid member D, whereby as said stopper is reciprocated said escapementis operated to permit a step-by-step movement of said member D, and afinal horizontal stop E in the path of said projection preventingfurther reciprocation of said stopper.

10. The combination with a bottle of a double stopper B arranged toreciprocate in the neck of said bottle, a member D attached to saidstopper to reciprocate therewith, a spring arranged to rotate saidmember horizontally, a relatively-movable series of vertical ribs E anda relatively-fixed projection O forming an escapement for said member D,whereby as said stopper is reciprocated said escapement is operated topermit a step-by-step movement of said member D, andafiual horizontalstop E in the path of said projection preventing further reciprocationof said stopper.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGE LUCAS.

Witnesses:

DOMINGO A. USNIA, FRED WHITE.

